Winter breaks - Cosy Holiday Cottages
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The scientists may be saying that our climate is changing but British winters are still cold and that makes a holiday or short break in a cosy cottage just as appealing as it ever was.
Rain, sleet and snow are no barrier to winter breaks in the UK which can be as sedentary or as active as anyone wants.
There are thousands of well-equipped country cottages in some of the most picturesque and idyllic parts of the country with owners just happy to hand over the keys for a winter break. There are often some excellently priced midweek deals to be had.
There are many other styles of property which can be a base for a comfortable getaway in winter. Traditional thatched and beamed cottages with inglenook fireplaces are a big draw but every area of Britain has its own style. Granite and stone in Wales and the north, crofters cottages in Scotland or thatched roofs in Suffolk or Norfolk make picturesque places to stay. Properties to rent do not have to be “olde worlde” but can be modern bungalows and cottages – even log cabins – and sometimes it is the setting that makes them attractive – in the New Forest of Hampshire or on a Pennine hillside, for example. Most cottages are close to shops, pubs and restaurants so self-catering or eating out can be as optional as you want.
It is easy to instil a snug atmosphere into a winter cottage. Most properties will have central heating but when the wind blows lighting a log fire is hard to resist.
A winter cottage holiday appeals across a range of people – families, groups of friends or couples looking for a romantic hideaway for a while. They all have different requirements in terms of what they want to do and what they need to pack.
UK winter cottage break guide
General needs and skills include:
- Hit the internet to learn the ancient art of fire lighting. Learning how safely to cut logs and chop kindling may also be a necessary skill.
- Warm clothes are important. Take sweaters, sweatshirts, fleeces, body warmers, wax jackets, jeans, scarves, gloves and waterproofs to keep out the worst of the cold and wet. Waterproof footwear is essential. For headgear take a baseball cap, a woollen tea-cosy hat or even that old fur hat with earflaps bought in Russia. For those going walking or cycling in the forests, or on the coast and moorland local maps are a must.
- Stock up a larder with comfort food such as the ingredients for heart-warming stews, casseroles and puddings.
A family break:
- Load the car with mountain bikes
- Don’t forget the dog
- Wellington boots are a must
- Fishing gear
- Check with the local tourist board for local cinemas, attractions and seaside resorts within easy driving distance
- Games stations for bad-weather days where venturing out is impossible
- Board games such as scrabble
Groups of friends:
- Leave the mobile phone at home
- Stock up on the wine and beer
- Fill the larder
- Draw up a cooking and tidying rota
Romantic breaks:
- Turn up the central heating in the bedroom
- Load the car with candles, your favourite wines, champagne and massage oil
- Make sure the cottage is stocked with logs for that roaring fire in the living room
- Stock the larder on the first day as you are not planning to go out much
Prime locations around the UK:
- England’s North – an area of great beauty stretching right across the country from the Lake District to the Yorkshire Dales.
- Scotland – expect snow in winter when Ben Nevis, the Cairngorm National Park, Loch Ness and Loch Lomond are among exceptional areas. The west coast has scores of islands to explore while the east has some chilly but beautiful beaches to walk.
- Wales – has many long and wide beaches, huge areas of forests as well as the beauty of the Snowdonia and Pembrokeshire national parks.
- East Anglia – walking and cycling routes can include wetlands, forests and history. Suffolk and Norfolk beaches are picturesque and numerous
- England’s South – ramblers have the New Forest, the Cotswolds and the Downs as prime hiking territory and villages with antique shops, pubs and restaurants. Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is a fun family spot for fossils and some unusual beach features.
- West Country – the peninsula has a huge number of coastal options in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. Inland has the beauty of animal life and wilderness of Exmoor and Dartmoor.
- Northern Ireland – free of the Troubles these days, the province has a lot to offer visitors. For those who love the Great Outdoors, there are the Glens of Antrim, the Causeway Coast, the Mourne Mountains and the beauty of the western lakes.
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